IN PRESENT —--
THIRD POV ;
Soren's mood had been off all day. His temper became unstable as memories from his childhood flashed through his mind the entire day.
However, that wasn't the only thing that bothered him. He was also consumed by annoyance at Zale's refusal to tell him how he could help him. The wolf told him to leave his room after Soren broke down in front of him, but he never said anything further. Zale refused to come to dinner because he needed to sleep.
Soren couldn't believe that he lost control of his emotions in front of his master when he had always done a good job restraining them. He had no idea Zale had done that, how he had made him so weak that he couldn't help but show his weakness.
He assumed it was the guilt of keeping the truth of medicines from him, but now that he has promised to do anything to help him, he will not back down.
To say he wasn't a little nervous would be an understatement. Currently, he's on his way to Zale's room now.
However, when he gently unlocks the door so as not to disturb him and goes further inside, he is surprised to find the bed and room completely empty. He hurriedly turns and runs back, and when he asks a servant if they know where Zale is, he was told that they saw him take the stairs to the roof area.
Soren jogs with long strides to the terrace; when he arrives, the door was already open, allowing the cool night air inside. The night was dark, and the view was obscured.
"Zale?" Soren called out but what came back was silence.
He surveyed the night scenery by peeking around.
"Did you have sworn that you'd not let me be free for even a few minutes?"
Soren abruptly turned around and his ears followed the source of the noise. The voice comes rambling from the back of the wall behind Soren.
Without wasting any time Soren walked his way to him, he found Zale leaning with his hands spread on the railing facing the rustling branches of trees far in the forest.
"When did you wake up?" Soren huffed as he questioned and stood beside him at his full height.
Without turning his face and looking at him, Zale duly answered, "When you all were having dinner."
It was as if nothing happened. It's odd because of how normal it was for both of them.
Soren dumbfoundedly looked at him, "Then why didn't you come and join us?"
Finally, Zale turned his face to him and thought why did he have to answer all his questions every time? He should be the one questioning him and not the other way around.
"Cause I didn't want to. The dinner where everyone laughs and enjoys, I don't like this kind of atmosphere near me, you of all people is well aware of this." Zale lets out and Soren shakes his head.
"I can promise you that the dinner was not nice or cheerful," Soren assured him, just as he had convinced Zale that the dinner was to his liking, that all the dismal and unhappy stories were being recounted, and that he would have joined. Zale couldn't help himself and burst out laughing at his folly before he could stop himself.
It was a cold and bright smile that lit up his face and his eyes twinkled. Soren couldn't help himself from gazing at his radiant features, it looked like a genuine smile and he was glad that after the conflicts of all day, Zale seemed in a good mood. Though, he still feels bad about the wound on his which looks ten times worse than before.
"What, why are you laughing?" Soren inquired, perplexed.
Zale didn't mind responding to him and simply shook his head. He turned his face away from him, returning his gaze to the darkened forest.
The moon's reflection was the only source of illumination. Soren looked at him, puzzled, but remained quiet when he caught sight of the smile that stuck around on his lips. He wished his master could always smile more like that.
"Can you tell me why you're staring at me?" Zale asked teasingly, after feeling Soren's constant gaze piercing holes in his face. Not that he minded it.
"Huh?" Soren snapped back to reality. "Nothing in particular."
Zale didn't believe him but didn't pursue the matter any further.
Considering that he was aware of what Soren wanted to ask. He wished they could pick up where they left off in their conversation when Zale threw him out of his room against his will. He found it quite fascinating to see Soren in such a state of desperation, and it's not like he doesn't want to tell his sinful agreement because he too was thrilled, but not before poking fun out at him.
"By the way, why did you come here?" Zale inquired, even though he already knew the answer, but he wanted to hear it again and again. He's basically a bully who enjoys abusing his tiger mate.
"Of course, to look for you. I went into your room first, but you weren't there, and a maid informed me she spotted you walking towards here." Soren remarked, allowing the informal conversation to flow, which seldom happens between them because Soren is the only person he could ever talk to. No one wants to approach a killing machine like him.
"Remind me to haunt that dunce on the haunting day, that little snitch," Zale demands bitterly.
Soren agreed, "Sure! Can you tell me when you're going to bed?" he inquired since he was exhausted from the day and needed to sleep.
"I'm going to stay a little longer." Zale faced him and could clearly see the exhaustion in his eyes. "Why don't you go first, I'll leave when I feel like it?"
However, Soren wasn't ready to just go to sleep without knowing that Zale was in bed and not roaming around getting into trouble, he was an experienced boy after all.
And the silly wolf knows exactly why Soren came here and asked the question in the first place. He knows Soren comes into his room every night to look at him, he just pretends to be sleeping although he wasn't.
His obsession with Soren ever since he was a kid and till now isn't something you could say is healthy, and both parties know it evidently but never talked about it openly. To Zale, Soren is like his precious possession which can breathe. A possession who himself consented to being a toy to him and being with him till the end.
"No, I guess I also need some air to freshen my mind." Soren lets out, looking into Zale's eyes and something feels different.
"Do as you wish," Zale shrugged off.
After a moment of silence and looking at nothing in particular, the silence feels like a burden for Soren. When he looks at Zale he finds his composure at peace, the calm he'd seen in years.
"You're staring again." Zale gives him a reality check and when Zale turns to him, this time Soren doesn't know what excuse to make. His eyes burned and his heart started to race faster.
Soren kept looking and Zale held his gaze without breaking it.